Replacing your kitchen doors can completely change the appearance of a kitchen without the cost and disruption of replacing everything.
But it is not always the right solution.
At Click Doors, we sell replacement kitchen doors, so it would be easy for us to tell you that changing the doors is always worthwhile. It isn’t.
Sometimes keeping the existing cabinets makes perfect sense. Sometimes you would simply be spending money improving a kitchen that really needs replacing.
Here are the situations where we would think carefully before ordering replacement doors.
1. Your Kitchen Cabinets Are Damaged
The condition of the existing cabinets is the most important starting point.
Replacement doors work best when the cabinet boxes themselves are structurally sound.
Look particularly for:
- Swollen or blown chipboard
- Significant water damage, especially around the sink
- Loose or damaged cabinet joints
- Badly damaged hinge mounting points
- Cabinets that are no longer square or securely fixed
- Serious deterioration to the cabinet bases
A small amount of wear does not necessarily mean a cabinet needs replacing. But fitting brand-new doors to badly damaged units is unlikely to be money well spent.
If the cabinet itself is failing, a new door will not solve the underlying problem.
2. You Are Unhappy With the Kitchen Layout
Replacement doors change how a kitchen looks.
They do not change how it works.
If your main frustration is that:
- You do not have enough storage
- The sink or appliances are in the wrong place
- There is not enough worktop space
- Cupboards are difficult to access
- You want to add an island or peninsula
- The overall layout simply does not suit how you use the room
then replacing the doors may improve the appearance without solving the reason you dislike the kitchen.
In that situation, it may be better to put the money towards redesigning the kitchen properly.
3. Most of the Kitchen Needs Replacing Anyway
There is a point where a makeover can become a rebuild.
For example, imagine you are planning to replace:
- All end panels
- All plinths
- Cornices and pelmets
- Worktops
- Sink and taps
- Handles
- Several cabinets
- Appliances
At that stage it is worth comparing the total cost with a new kitchen rather than automatically assuming replacement doors will be the cheaper option.
That does not mean it will always make sense to buy a complete new kitchen. Good-quality cabinets may still be worth keeping.
But once the list of replacement parts becomes extensive, it is sensible to compare both options.
4. You Are Planning Major Plumbing or Electrical Changes
If you already intend to move the sink, oven, hob, dishwasher or other appliances, the project may involve considerable work behind the cabinets.
Likewise, major electrical changes can require units to be moved or removed.
If significant building, plumbing or electrical work is planned, decide on the final kitchen layout before spending money on replacement doors.
Otherwise, you could order doors for cabinets that later need to be moved or replaced.
5. Your Cabinets Are Badly Out of Square
Older kitchens are not always perfectly straight.
A small amount of adjustment is normal and can often be dealt with during fitting.
But if the units are badly out of level or alignment, fitting new doors may expose the problem rather than hide it.
You might find uneven gaps between doors or doors that are difficult to adjust correctly.
Before ordering, check that the cabinets are secure and reasonably square.
6. The Hinges or Hinge Fixing Points Are Badly Damaged
Sometimes what appears to be a door problem is actually a cabinet problem.
If a hinge is loose because the screw holes in the cabinet have become damaged, fitting a new door will not automatically fix it.
Minor hinge problems can often be repaired. Hinges themselves can also be replaced.
If several cabinets have badly damaged hinge mounting areas, deal with those problems before investing in new doors.
7. You Expect Replacement Doors to Make the Kitchen Completely New
New doors can make a dramatic visual difference.
But the finished kitchen will still contain many of the components that were there before.
Depending on what you choose to replace, you may still have your existing:
- Cabinet interiors
- Worktops
- Appliances
- Sink
- Flooring
- Wall tiles
- Internal fittings
That is often exactly the point — you are keeping perfectly usable parts rather than replacing them unnecessarily.
But if what you really want is the experience and finish of an entirely new kitchen, changing the doors alone may not go far enough.
8. Your Worktops Are Damaged and Difficult to Retain
Replacing worktops does not automatically mean you need a new kitchen.
It is quite common to replace doors and worktops together.
However, the condition and design of the existing worktops should be considered before ordering your doors.
If removing the worktops is likely to damage the cabinets, or if you intend to make major changes to the sink, hob or cabinet layout at the same time, the economics of the project can change quickly.
Work out the complete job before ordering one part of it.
9. You Have Not Measured the Existing Doors Properly
This does not mean replacement doors are the wrong choice permanently.
It means you are not ready to order them yet.
Replacement kitchen doors need to fit the cabinets you already have.
Do not assume that a door which looks approximately 500mm wide is actually 500mm wide. Measure the existing doors individually and record the dimensions accurately.
The same applies to hinge positions if you want your new doors drilled to match the existing cabinets.
A few extra minutes measuring is considerably cheaper than ordering the wrong doors.
If you are unsure, use our kitchen door measuring guide before placing your order.
So When DOES Replacing Kitchen Doors Make Sense?
For many kitchens, it makes very good sense.
Replacement doors are particularly suitable when:
- The existing cabinets are structurally sound
- You are happy with the current layout
- The doors are dated, damaged or simply no longer to your taste
- You want a different colour or style
- You want to avoid the disruption of removing the entire kitchen
- You would rather spend your budget on the visible parts of the kitchen
- You are comfortable reusing components that still have years of useful life left
In those circumstances, replacing the doors can give you much of the visual impact of a new kitchen without unnecessarily replacing the cabinets underneath.
Check the Kitchen Before You Check the Door Colours
It is easy to start a kitchen makeover by looking at Shaker doors, colours and handles.
Start with the cabinets instead.
Open them. Check underneath the sink. Look at the hinge fixing points. Check that the cabinets are secure and that you are still happy with the layout.
If the foundations of the kitchen are good, then replacement doors are worth considering.
If they are not, it is better to discover that before you spend the money.
And if your existing kitchen passes those checks, you can then start looking at replacement kitchen door styles, order colour swatches and work out what your makeover will cost.
Explore the different styles, colours and finishes available for your existing kitchen.
